By Jessie Faulkner
The Times-Standard
Copyright 2007 Times - Standard
All Rights Reserved
BRIDGEVILLE, Calif. — The average response time to emergencies in town is 45 minutes — a reality a group of dedicated volunteers is hoping to change with the establishment of a Bridgeville fire company.
Some 38 percent of the Carlotta Volunteer Fire Department’s calls, according to the February Bridgeville Community, are in Bridgeville.
“Last year they averaged two calls per month. Between January 1st and 20th there were three Bridgeville calls,” the newsletter stated.
The idea of a fire company arose, in part, from the grant-funded Van Duzen Watershed Fire Safe Council. Jean-Louis Carmona, who oversees the Council, hired and trained a crew of six to eight employees to clear access roads and remove brush from around the homes of senior citizens in an area ranging from Blocksburg to Dinsmore.
“One of the things we want to do with the council,” Carmona said, “is to start a volunteer fire company.”
Several local fire districts or departments have been offering equipment — details are nearly worked out for acquiring a fire truck from Weott and a water truck from the Zenia-Kettenpom Fire Co. Donations from other firefighting units should meet all the new department’s gear needs, the main expense will be raising money for liability insurance, Carmona said.
The first step for the new volunteers includes attending a first-responder class for five Saturdays in Carlotta. It’s likely that most of the new company’s calls will involve responding to traffic accidents. First-responder classes train volunteers how to handle situations until the professionals arrive on scene.
Bridgeville resident Ben Fleek has been recruited as the company’s fire chief and is hoping that the more members of the community are willing to step forward and join the core group of seven to eight volunteers.
He’s already recruited his wife, Candy Fleek, to handle the company’s paperwork.
If all goes as planned, the Bridgeville Fire Co. will be ready to go by June.
Those working to establish a volunteer fire department in Bridgeville are hosting a public meeting at 4 p.m. on Feb. 10 at the Bridgeville Community Center. Everyone is encouraged to attend, and meeting topics include medical aides, structure fires and CDF training and timelines.